Last Post, March 11

Advice for the anti-Milo brigade.

The howling mob trying to silence Milo Yiannopoulos might well read John Milton’s advice in his Areopagitica speech: “I cannot praise a fugitive and cloistered virtue, unexercised and unbreathed, that never sallies out and sees her adversary, but slinks out of the race.” But perhaps Milton’s perceptive argument is beyond the wit and education of the leftists hunting him and trying to silence him from speaking in Australia.

Brian Jones, Capel Sound, Vic

I see activists now have to concentrate their efforts on schoolchildren. Have they run out of adults? How confusing for these young minds having most probably learnt that carbon dioxide enhances plant growth and is a greening gas rather than a greenhouse gas. How deplorable to be manipulating young minds to further the political aims of left-wing ideologues.

Simon Gamble, Noosa Heads, Qld

Malcolm Turnbull says he could have beaten Bill Shorten. I wonder how the drover’s dog rates his chances.

Ian Cooke, Alstonville, NSW

The fact that Malcolm Turnbull is still a member of the Liberal Party confirms two weaknesses about that organisation’s hierarchy: deluded ignorance of its own principles, and a pervasive spinelessness among its leaders. This is not a broad church, but a bunch of chumps.

L. Colquhoun, Invermay, Tas

Julian Burnside backs death duties. Crushing taxes kill incentive. Socialism and Marxism still appeal, because enough people still think that anybody who has more than me got it by theft and corruption, and that justifies my envy and my actions to level the field — and to look virtuous while doing it.

Arthur Giannopoulos, Mitcham, SA

I see a flurry of letters calling for nuclear energy to solve our base-load energy concerns. When I read one that offers their property as a disposal site for the spent fuel rods, I will know they are serious.

Tony Hennessy, Casino, NSW

Judith Sloan (“Floating figures on hydrogen fuels hot-air brigade”, 9/3) did not address the large volumetric capacities needed to handle hydrogen as a fuel. As an engineering student, I learnt that the energy density of liquid hydrogen was considerably inferior to that of hydro-carbon fuels, with consequent difficulties of storage, usage and cost. Has climate change changed that?

P. Clarke, Corinda, Qld

Qantas increasing cabin baggage weight will do nothing for those of us forced to sit next to passengers who overflow their seat space and want to hog the arm rest. Perhaps they should buy tickets for two seats.

David Crommelin, Strathfield, NSW